Modi Govt's Rafale base price less than that of UPA: Shah

New Delhi: Ruling BJP chief Amit Shah once again rejected the relentless allegations of corruption in the Rafale deal against the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government. During an interview after unveiling a book "Blueprint for an Economic Miracle" authored by Pradeep Gupta at Constitution Club on Friday, Shah said that Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has already clarified that the base price of the Rafale fighter aircraft negotiated by the Modi government is less than what was finalised by the UPA.

Last week, erstwhile NDA ministers of the Vajpayee government Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha and veteran Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan held a joint Press conference and claimed that the alleged scam in the Rafale deal is bigger than the Bofors scandal. To counter that, the BJP president took a jab at both Shourie and Sinha. "Will you give credence to the defence minister's statement or to those who did not get jobs?" The BJP has also time and again clarified that such attacks have come due to their being sidelined since 2014.

Shah also clarified that the NRC issue should not be perceived as a 'vote-bank' opportunity and it is for the country's security. He stressed that the legal process should take its own course, as it will be re-checked by the apex court. "It is too early to comment on such a sensitive issue. Let the initial process be done… then decide the future," said Shah.

The BJP chief expressed confidence that the party would retain power at the Centre in 2019 with a larger mandate.